Canadian Muslims denounce ISIS threats against Canada

(Ottawa – December 8, 2014) Following the release of a video message attributed to ISIS, the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), a prominent Muslim civil liberties & advocacy organization, reiterates that Canadian Muslims categorically condemn the terror group’s calls for violence against Canada and other nations.

“Canadian Muslims continue to unequivocally denounce and reject these abhorrent and un-Islamic threats by ISIS against our nation and fellow citizens. We condemn the depraved violence and extremism exhibited by this and other terror groups. Nothing can justify such actions,” says NCCM Executive Director Ihsaan Gardee.

“We emphasize the sacredness of life and repudiate any express statement or tacit insinuation that anyone should harm innocent people. Our message to anyone who espouses, endorses, or in any way supports this ideology of violence, is that your actions have nothing to do with the authentic teachings of Islam.

“It is both a civic and religious duty to contact the authorities if one has any information about plans to hurt or harm anyone,” says Gardee.

“This message is heavy on rhetoric but very low on substance,” adds Imam Sikander Hashmi, a spokesperson for the Canadian Council of Imams, as well as the Council of Imams of Ottawa-Gatineau. “The attempt to justify attacks against innocent people is deeply misguided and unsupported by Islamic principles.

“The fact that the overwhelming majority of Islamic scholars and leaders, from nearly all denominations – in Canada and around the world – are united in their opposition to ISIS and its vicious ideology is quite remarkable and very telling. We will continue to condemn radicalization towards extremist violence while offering sound and authentic Islamic knowledge to Canadian Muslims,” says Hashmi.

The NCCM has denouncedprevious threats against Canadians by ISIS. Following the Ottawa shootings in October, the NCCM coordinated a public statement at the National War Memorial by dozens of Muslim organizations condemning the attacks. In July 2005, the NCCM organized a national statement by over 120 Canadian Imams which condemned terrorism and religious extremism.

In September, the Islamic Social Services Association, in conjunction with the NCCM, launched the handbook United Against Terrorism which is designed to give communities information and tools to counter radicalization towards violent extremism and build civic engagement.

The NCCM is an independent, non-partisan and non-profit grassroots advocacy organization. It is a leading voice for Muslim civic engagement and the promotion of human rights.

CONTACTS:

Ihsaan Gardee, Executive Director, 613.254.9704 or 613.853.4111

Imam Sikander Hashmi, Spokesperson, Canadian Council of Imams & Council of Imams of Ottawa-Gatineau, 613.572.4252

Testimonials

Thank you to the NCCM for joining us. I am confident speaking for all of my team when I say that your presentation was captivating. I received immediate feedback from staff members about how much they enjoyed it.

Pierre Poirier, Chief, Security and Emergency Management, City of Ottawa